Fruit-grader



R. IIISIBLEY.

b Faun GRADER.l

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 19I9.

. Pmmdsept. 14,1920.

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FRUIT GRADER. APPLlcArloN FILEp Nov. |919.

Patenteasept. 14,1920.

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' INVEN'T'OF? Ho .ZS/)51g iran sTArlss PATENT l'oF1=1cr..-V

ROY I. SIBLEY, or GARDENA, cALIroRNiA.

. FRITfGRADER.

To all whom t may oorzjccrn.L y V.Be it Aknown Ythat l, ROY l. SIBLEHY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Gardena, inthe county ot' Los Angeles and-` State vof California, Ihave invented new and useful lmprovements 1nl Fruit-Graders, or which the following isa specification.

YThis invention relates to anapparatus lfor grading or sorting spheroidal bodies according to sizes, and theinventionvhas,for its obJect to provide an Aapparatus of this character which is economical 1n power consumption, 1s of comparatively simple con.

struction, and will eliiciently sort or grade various sizes of; spheroidal bodicssuch as nuts and fruits, for instance oranges, lemons and olives with rapidity, andwvhich will discharge continuously the different grades ofthe articles being sorted and willoperate continuously in the assortment. Y

The invention consists of the `'construction and details, forms of mwhich are illustrated in thek accompanying` .drawings `rand described;v and claimedhereinatter..

Figurejl 1s a longitudinalvertical lsec- 4tion through an embodiment of the invention,.par`ts of the mechanism 'being -in'dicatedin section. n; f

Fig. 2 isa transverse.verticali section on line'Q-Q, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View: otra portionfo one* end, of the `apparatus,;:certain ofthe parts being broken away to illustrate coi'istruc-r.`

tion details.- f' L Fig. 41: is aside elevation of a. portion of the apparatus showing theV driving `mcchanism for certain of the elements.

Figj is a sideelevation of the mecha-y f nismzfor relatively adqustingthespacmg ot the agitating rollers.

Fig.` A5,21 is a detail Fig. 5. V

Fig/6 is aplanview of a portion ofthe frame ofthe apparatus showing tensionl means' forv .the carrier tracks.;

shown in .'Fg. 16.

showing; the clamping device to hold the adjusting means shownlny e Specification of Letters Patent. `Ptnted Sepf,l 14, 1920. `'Application led November 7, .$19.1V Serial No. 336,476.v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of one of the adjusting .blocks or Vbearings shown in Fig. 5. f y

Fig..9 is aside elevation of a tensioning device :for one of the transfer belt shafts.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10,-10 of Fig. 9.Y y Y n rfheiapparatus thus shown includes a suitable framework 2 with an appropriate box paratus. In this case I haveshown two sets of the sortingmechanisms. y y

l)refe rably,'the top of the box structure?) is nprovided with a hopper or receiving chamber 4l, the sides of which are inclined to secure the proper vdistributionof the articlesto. be sorted or graded andwhich ,mayy

be introduced'into the upper chamber l by means yof ya feed belt` or other suitable conveyer 5 having a driving'device in the Jform ofv a roller 6 at one end which may be actuated through any suitable driving mechanism, as the belt and pulley 7 8.

The articles tor be sorted, such Jfor instance as nutsiof different kinds, olives or other fruitv being continuously fed in by the feeder 5 distribute themselvesover a'bottom structurje inthe chamber 4i which comprises a series of floor forming slats 9 arranged with their edges parallel and spaced, in vthis case,

longitudinally of the machine thus forming k grooves' yor channels indicated at 10 through whichthe articlesybeing graded may passV downwardly.` and rest upon or engage suitableineansoperatwe to keep the articles be hereinafter described; unless the articlesy are of such size that they will pass through the spaces on either side of the carrier tracks and below the adjacent sides of a given pair of rollers 11.

The rollers are clearly shown in Fig.` 1 as having theirend portions of reduced diameter or forming stems 11a which are supported in bearings 12 that are slidably adjustable transversely of the machine on ways or supports 13. This reduction A,of the ends of the agitating rollers 11 isfor the purpose of providing or producingy widened spaces at the ends of these rollers so as to permit such of the articles being graded, as would not pass between the lower surfaces ofthe rollers of one pair and the subjacent track, to be `discharged at one end of the hopper or chamber 4 on to a subj acent transverse discharging belt indicated at 15.

The carrier tracks above referred to preferably comprise endless cord-like members indicated at T thus forming belts one of which is disposed in the vertical plane medially between a respective pair of the' agitating rollers 11, and these tracks T being movable act as carriers to advance the oversize articles or pieces that are supported thereon toward one or the other ends of the rollers 11 so as to bring them into the area at the disfharge part or stem member 11 of the rollers and at which they will be discharged and permitted to fallY on to the adjacent discharge belt 15.` The carsV rier tracks (or belts) T are mounted upon respective pairs of pulleys or supporting wheels 16 those at one end of the tracks T being mounted fast ona driving Shaft17.

The desired tension of the endless tracks T may be maintained by means of aV suitable tensioning device, a form of which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, as vcomprising a bearing block' 18 in which the shaft 1Sn of the respective pulley or idler wheel 16 is mounted.' This bearing block iSis adjustable along suitable ways'19 and is connected at one side by a tension devi-re in the form of a chain 20 adapted" torbe hooked temporarily to a suitable pin or other fixed part 21 on an adjacent portion of the frame of the machine. From thisit will-be' seen that the endless track forming members estema T can be continuously driven so that their upper stretch will act as a support for the articles being sorted and will carry the oversize articles as above mentioned to the discharge end of the rollers 11 operating with respect to a given track T.

For the purpose of preventing the jamming or sticking of the articles being` sorted in between the associate track T and the relative rollers 11, the rollers are preferably rotated on their own axes in such direction that their adjacent faces sweep upwardly with a tendency to brush the nuts or fruits that are being handled inwardly toward the medial plane and thus prevents them from being caught in the spaces therebetween this case, the latter shaft is provided with a sprocket wheel 26 having a chain 27 running over a sprocket pinion 28 fastened adjacent toone end of the shaft 24.

Power to drive the main shaft 17 may be derived from any suitable source as through a lrrge gear 30 secured on one end thereof with a pinion 31 fast on a short shaft 32 mounted in appropriate bearings and having on its outer end or suitable portion a driving pulley P over which a belt may be extended to any other countershaft as may be convenient. i y

For the purpose of securing variation of the spacing of the rollers 11 in respective pairs and thus to adapt the machine to the assortment or segregation of nuts or fruits of different sizes as above suggested, the

bearings 12 of the roller stems are slidable;

and 8 in which the blocks are shown as adj ustably connected to one or another of suitable transversely eXtending links 35, one roller 11 of one vpair being attached, as for instance, byy a clamp screw-36 to its respective adjusting rod 35, the latter being slotted at 35a to take the clamp screw 36.

One of the agitating rollers 11 is con'y nected to one -rod 35 and the other roller of the pair is connected to the other rod 35 and these rods areshown as extended endwise and connected at diametrically opposite points to a crank device in the form of a disk 37 having a shaft 38, one link being comiectediatBQ toons side of the `disk and. the othe'rlink connected at 40'to the oppoof one pair either toward each other ror from each other according to the direction of rotation ,of the crank device 37 which .may be operated by means of a lever 41 extending upwardly from one side of the disk and provided with any suitable setting device as a clamp screw 42 designed to bind the latter rat the. desired position upon, a

The shaft 38 upon which the adjusting device 37 is mounted may be extended along the outer sideof the casing v-or frame as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, so that both ends rof each of the rollers 11 are moved equal distances` and thus secure uniform setting` of the rollers of each pair, and since all of the bearings of the several Vrollers, 11 of one asserting mechanism are` connected to. and simultaneously operated by the one adjusting device' 37, it will be seenthat a uniform change for different assortments will be obtained at one setting ofthe adjusting .f

device 37.

From the above it will be seen that when a charge containing varioussizes of articlesy to'be sorted is introduced intoy the cham` ber or hopper 4 thearticles will spread'out and pass downwardlyrinto the channels l0 Vbetween therk pairs of rollers 11y and the un- 48, Fig. 4, driven by a sprocket ychain 49y passing over suitableidlers' or guide spreek#v ets 5,0 Lappropriately positioned andsaidl chainjalso runs aroundl a `master sprocket i 51 which-is secured onan intermediate shaft 52 to secure a change of directionof rotation, the yshaft being provided :with a gear'53 meshing with ra gear 54k o f similar sizeV and which is lsecured on i the main shaft 17. f f Y v The tension. of the several transfer belts 45, which are shown as spaced edgewise from eachother by suitable guides 45a, Fig'.

2, is' controlled and may be varied by suitable adjustment of cndrollers 46 mounted on a shaft 55, Figs. 1, 9 and 10, which shaft` is supported in bearing blocks56 these beingkr the carrier slidably engaged with ways or guides '5T ':1t-

tached to Asuitable portions ofthe framef work 2. Desired tension of the belts'45 is obtained by shifting the blocks 56 on their' ways through the adjustment ofr a set screw 58, one provided for each block 56, and which is turnable in a. threaded projection or nut portion 59 xedly mounted on the frame. j

In the event that only a single assortment of the article is being'niade, the oversize Y nuts or fruit are carried outwardly bythe discharge f belt 15 to a `suitable receiver while the undersize nuts or fruit falling to-r the transfer belts 45 are carried similar to a suitable point of the discharge :separate from the discharge belt 15'." However, if it is rdesired to make any further segregation or grading ofv the nuts passing between the several rollers ill and, the carrier tracks and received upon the belt 45 thenA another organization ofthe grading mechanism is arranged below the upper organization and` the carrier belts 45 will dischargetheir burf den-onto one end of the subjacent sets ofk rollers-11 and ther operation, as above described, will be. repeated, the undersize s articles passing through the roller organization beingdischarged into a receiving box indicated at 60 and shown as provided with inclined bottoms sothat all of the articles whether fruit or 'nuts will be Idirertedftoward'a central troughl which may be proi videdvwith a `discharge belt 62. rT he over. size articles fromy the lower sortingmechaiV nism will be shifted ftoward discharge belts 15, Fig. 1, and by this carried away'tofa separate receiver. o x Y' The discharge belts 15jand 15-are sup-r ported upon suitable rollers certain of which; have shafts 63, Fig. Y4,7pro`vided withgears or bevel pinions 64thatare engaged by complementary pinions 65 fast ,on shafts t67 carrying sprocketwheels or other power receiving means 68 thatv are engaged by an endless sprocket chain 69 which extends Yover to and is driven byr amaster sprocket 70 Asecured on the shaft k17 s TheY endless Lcarrier tracks lT ofthe lower sorting -Inechanism are operated through their respectivepulley wheels, one rcfg-which for each belt isy securedon a shaft 71'disposed below thef'upper shaftV lfvand having suitabledriving, connectionsas Ysprocket gear '72 so that `the shafts `are driven tc` gether. Power canV be taken from the lower shaft4 71 to drive the lower setof rollersll. by meansof sprocket gear indicated; at 73.`v By relatively staggering the pairs of coordinaterollers 11 with respect to the :upper series and the lower series, the lower stretch of the carrier tracks'T can be .covered and. protected by the ,lower longitudinally eX-fv tending slats shown at 9a, vFig. 2, which.. mayfbe of.-hollow ,form orof arcuate cross section to provide space for the lower stretch of the adjacent track T to run in.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention as claimed.

I claim:

l. An apparatus for grading spheroidal bodies including a plurality of pairs of rollers spaced at different distances apart, one end of said rollers being reduced in diameter, a conveyer track extending longitudinally between and below each pair of said rollers, a conveyer extending transversely under the reduced ends of said rollers, and a conveyer extending longitudinally below each track conveyer and the pair of rollers above it.

2. An apparatus for grading spheroidal bodies including a plurality Vof pairs of rollers spaced at different distances apart, one end of said rollers being reduced in diameter, a conveyer track extending longitudinally between and below each pair of said rollers,y a conveyer extending transversely under the reduced ends of said rollers, and a conveyer extending longitudinally below each track conveyer and the pair of rollers above it; and a guide upstanding between each of said latter 'conveyers.

3. An apparatus for grading spheroidal bodies including a plurality of pairs of rollers spaced at diiferent distances apart, one end of said rollers being reduced in diameter, a conveyer track extending longi tudinally between and below each pair of said rollers, a conveyer extending transversely under the reduced ends of said rollers, and a conveyer extending longitudinally below each track conveyer and the pair of rollers above it; a receiving box below said latter conveyers rand a ydischarge belt in the bottom of said receiving box.

l. A grading device consisting of a series of trough-like sets of side members and a bottom member all disposed to form lateral spaces forA the outlet of undersize bodies, said members coperative to advance the oversize bodies toward onev end ofthe members, and means for simultaneously laterally and opp'ositelyl adjusting relative side members of each set.

5., An apparatus for grading'- spheroidal bodies, comprising a pair of rotary, parallel rollers, with means for turning the 'paired rollers so that their adjacent faces move upward; the rollers having certain ends ref' bodies, comprising a pair ofrotary, par-` allel rollers, with means for turning-the paired rollers `so that their adjacent faces move upward; the rollers lhaving certain ends 'reducedI in diameter to increase the transverse space. between the same; and means disposed medially below the, rollers for forming outlet spaces for undersize bodies and operative to advance the oversize bodies supported thereon toward the increased space at the ends of the rollers, said `last named meansl including endless traveling belts. f f

7. An apparatus for grading spheroidal bodies, comprising a series of pairs of rotary, parallel rollers, with means for turning the rpairedroli'ers so that their adjacent faces moveupward; the rollershaving certain endsv reduced iii diameter to increase the transverse space between the same; and means disposed me'dially below the rollers for forming outlet spaces for undersize bodies andoperative to advance the oversize bodies supported thereon toward the inl creased space at the ends of the rollersl 8. An apparatus for grading spheroidalv bodies, comprising a series of pairs of rotary, parallel rollers, with means for turning the paired rollers so that their adjacent faces move upward; the rollers having certain `ends reduced in diameter to increase the transverse space between the same; means disposed medially below the rollers for forming outlet spaces for under-size bodies and operative to advance the oversize bodies supported thereon toward the increased space at the ends of the rollers; and 'dischargemeans extending transversely to the vdischarge ends of the pairs of rollers in the'series to` carry away the segregated oversize bodies. y

9.- An apparatus for grading spheroidal bodies, comprising a vseries of pairs of ro-j tary, parallel rollers, with means for turning the paired rollers so that their adjacent faces move upward; the rollershaving certain ends reduced ,in diameter to increase the transverse space between the same; means disposed medially below' the rollers for forming outlet spaces for undersize bodies and operative to advance the oversize bodies supported thereon toward the increased space at the ends of the rollers; and slatsfor covering the spaces between adjacent rollers of two pairs. t

10. Anapparatus for asserting spheroidal bodies according to size, comprising a plurality of series of spaced rollers, which latter are arranged in pairs with upwardly turning, adjacent faces; means disposed medially below the spaced and paired rollers to form supports for oversize bodies and permit undersize bodies to escape laterally; means for rotating all of the rollers in paired relations; and means for driving the supporting means sok as to carry oversize bodies to respective and yseparate discharges for each series.

11. An apparatus for assorting spheroidal bodies according` to size, comprising aplurality of series of spaced rollers, which latter are varranged in pairsv with upwardly turning, adjacent faces; means disposed medially below the spaced and paired rollers to form supports for oversize bodies and permit undersize bodies to escape laterally; means for rotating all of the rollers in paired relation; means for driving the ,sup-V porting means so as to carry oversized bodies to respective and separate discharges for each series; and transfer means for transferring the undersize bodies of one series to the head of another series.

12. An apparatus for asserting spheroidal bodies according to size, comprising a plurality of series of spaced rollers, which lat-v ter are arranged in pairs with upwardly turning, adjacent faces; means disposed medially below the spaced and paired rollers to form supports for oversize bodies and permit undersize bodies to escape laterally; means for rotating all of the rollers in paired relation; means for driving the supporting Y means so as to carry oversize bodies to respective and separate discharges for reach series; and separate oversize body discharge means for each series.

13. An apparatus for grading spheroidal bodies including a plurality of pairs of rollers spaced at different distances apart, one end of said` rollers being reduced in diameter, a conveyer track extending longitudinally between and below each pair of' said rollers, and a conveyer extending transversely under the reduced ends of -said rollers, and a conveyerrextending longitudione end of said rollers being reduced in diameter, a lconveyer track extending longitudi nally betweenV and below each pair of said rollers, a conveyer extending transversely under the reduced ends of said rollers, and a conveyer extending longitudinally below each track conveyer and the pair of rollers above it; a plurality of pairs of rollers` spaced at differentl distances apart located below said conveyerspsaid latter rollers being reduced at one end, a conveyer extending transversely under the reduced ends of said l latter rollers, and a track conveye'rextendf ing between and below said latter rollers; a

receiving box below said latter rollers, and a f discharge belt in the bottom of said box.

15. An apparatus for'grading spheroidal kbodies `including a -vpluralit'y of pairs of rollers spaced at different distances apart,

one endY of said rollers being reduced inA diameter, a conveyer trackv extending longitudinally between and below each pair of said rollers, a conveyer extendingv transversely under the reduced ends of lsaid rollers, and a conveyerl extending longitudif Y nally below eachtrackconveyer and the pair of Vrollers above it; aV plurality'of pairs of located below said conveyers and staggered with relation to said first rollers, said second` rollers being reducedl at one end, a conveyer extending transversely under Vvthe reduced ends of said second rollers, and a track conveyer extending between and below said lat-r ter rollers.r v n 16. An apparatus forI grading spheroidal bodies including a plurality of pairs of rollers spaced atv different distances apart,

one end of saidV rollers being reduced in i diameter, a conveyer track extending longitudinally between and below each pair of said rollers, a conveyer extending trans-l versely under the reduced ends of said rollers, and a conveyer extendinglongitud# nally below each track conveyer and the pair of rollers above it; andmeans for simultaneouslyA adjusting said pairs of rollers closer together .or farther apart.

17. An apparatus for grading spheroidal i bodies including a plurality of pairs vof rollersV spaced `at different, distances apart', .i i

one end of said lrollers being reduced in diameter, a conveyer track extending longitudinally betweenk and below each pair ofy said rollers, and a conveyer extending transversely under the reduced ends of said rollers, and a conveyer extendinglongitudinally below each track conveyer and the pair of rollers above it; a plurality of pairs of rollers spaced at diliferentfdistances apart'located below said conveyers, said latter rollers being reduced at one en d, a conveyer extending transversely underthe reduced .ends-of sa1d latter rollers, and a ltrack conveyerextending between and below sa1d latter rollers; means for simultaneously adjusting said first pairs of rollers closer'together orv farther apart, and'means forsimultaneously adjusting said second pairs ofrollers closer vtogether or farther apart- In testimony whereof Ijhave` signedmyL name to thisspeciication.

'.ROY I, siBLar j 8am?" rollers spacedI vat different zdistancesapalt" 

